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Critically Endangered Slow Loris Found Alive
21 Oct
Summary
- Critically endangered Bangka slow loris rediscovered on Indonesian island.
- Over 90 individuals found, most returned to wild habitats.
- Species faces threats from mining and oil palm plantations.
The Bangka slow loris, a critically endangered and venomous primate, has been rediscovered on the Indonesian island of Bangka, decades after it was last scientifically documented. An animal rescue organization found over 90 individuals in recent years, with most being returned to the wild.
This discovery, detailed in a recent study, confirms the species' survival despite extensive habitat loss caused by tin mining and oil palm plantations. Scientists express astonishment that such a distinctive primate received so little attention for nearly a century.
Like other slow loris species, the Bangka slow loris possesses a rare venomous bite, capable of causing severe reactions in humans. Its survival in multiple areas on Bangka offers hope that other species believed extinct may still exist in unexplored regions.
Conservationists emphasize the urgent need to protect remaining forests on Bangka and conduct surveys to ascertain population sizes and distribution. Losing the Bangka slow loris would mean losing a unique part of evolutionary history and an irreplaceable ecological component.
